My name is Sylvia. I am 28 years old and have a creative job at a gaming company in New York.

On the surface, it seems like I’m living a trouble-free life, but in reality, my family situation is quite complicated.

A year ago, the company my father worked for unexpectedly went bankrupt, so I stopped living alone and started living in my hometown with my parents and my sister, Freda. Our household needs my income to maintain itself.

“Sylvia, Freda said she wants pork steaks for dinner tomorrow night,” my mother started the conversation.

I sighed inwardly and replied, “Oh, and we are running out of money for food. We can’t even afford to buy pork loin.”

“Can you contribute a little more to the food budget?”

I frowned and said, “We’re already out of food money for this month. It’s not even halfway through yet, though.”

That’s when Freda joined the conversation.

“Big sis, you’re not contributing enough for food.”

“What are you talking about? I’m already contributing $3,000, so it should be more than enough.”

Freda snorted and said, “Big sis, prices have gone up, and $3,000 just isn’t enough for a family of four anymore.”

I couldn’t contain my anger and retorted, “Just $3,000? If you have a complaint, why don’t you work and earn some food money yourself?”

“It’s hard to find a job, so I feel sorry for Freda,” my mother said, taking my sister’s side.

I thought bitterly to myself, my sister uses job hunting as an excuse, but in reality, she’s unemployed and squandering her days away. Moreover, the living expenses I provide are being given to my sister as pocket money by my mother.

“Stop it already. If it’s really that difficult to live, how about we sell this house and move to Mom’s hometown? We might find work there, and life could be—”

“No way. I don’t want to go back to that hometown,” my mother immediately opposed the idea.

Our grandmother runs a successful Italian restaurant in Queens where we could work, and with free access to delicious pizza and pasta, our lives would certainly be easier. However, Grandmother is very strict, and especially when it comes to making pizza, she becomes even stricter. My mother dislikes this and tries to avoid the physical labor of making pizza.

My father always says this.

“Why do we seek grandmother’s help so quickly when we are all trying to support this life together? That is what you call being spoiled.”

I wanted to scream inside. It’s ridiculous to say that I, who earns the living expenses, am spoiled when I have a sister who does not want to work.

“I think Freda should look for a part-time job too. She is already 26, and there are many people who work part-time while job hunting,” I suggested.

But my mother quickly argued against it.

“No. Freda is helping around the house, so she doesn’t have time for a part-time job.”

“What? What are you talking about? I have never seen Freda do any housework.”

My father interjected, “Freda carries the dishes to the sink after meals and does her own laundry. Sometimes she even massages my shoulders.”

I began to feel angry. The housework that my father describes Freda doing is something even an elementary school child could do. In contrast, I get up early every morning to prepare breakfast for the entire family and make my father’s lunch box.

Additionally, I support our finances and take care of tax payments. Still, my parents have always favored Freda. She has been favored since we were children.

I am considered pretty too, but Freda has a more refined face and is charming, which is why our parents have always treated her specially.

Actually, one might think I should leave such a situation soon, but due to complex circumstances, it’s not easy for me to move out, and I live with daily stress.

Days passed, and I initially did not realize that my sister had left the house. I thought she was just going out as usual, but the next day and the day after that, she was nowhere to be found. Realizing this, I began to have suspicions.

Just then, as I was returning home and heading to my room, I heard an astonishing conversation from my parents in the living room.

“I can’t wait for the souvenirs from Hawaii.”

“Freda is really lucky. Right now, she must be relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii and enjoying meals at delicious restaurants.”

“I want to go to Hawaii too. Maybe we should go together next time.”

I couldn’t help but interrupt.

“Wait, what are you both talking about? Are you saying Freda is in Hawaii right now?”

My parents responded with puzzled expressions.